BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 670
	By: Birdwell et al.
	Nominations
	6/7/2017
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) along with its subsidiaries, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), account for roughly one-third of the state budget. Currently, the executive commissioner of HHSC is the only head of these three agencies appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate.

S.B. 670 requires that the commissioners of both DFPS and DSHS also be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the senate. The goal is to ensure that the taxpayers in the State of Texas have sufficient ability to express their opinions through their elected representatives on bureaucrats that control a significant amount of the state budget. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

S.B. 670 amends current law relating to the appointment of the commissioners of the health and human services agencies by the governor.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 531.0055(a), Government Code, to provide that in this section, rather than in this section and in Section 531.0056, "agency director" means the commissioner of a health and human services agency.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1001.051, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsections (a), (a-3), (a-4), and (b) and adding Subsection (a-5), as follows:

(a) Requires the governor, rather than the executive commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission (executive commissioner), to appoint a commissioner of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS commissioner) with the advice and consent of the senate, rather than approval of the governor.

(a-3) Authorizes the governor, rather than the executive commissioner, based on the qualifications and experience in administering public health systems, to appoint, rather than employ, a person other than a physician as the DSHS commissioner.

(a-4) Requires the executive commissioner, if the governor appoints, rather than the executive commissioner employs, a person as DSHS commissioner who is not a physician, to designate a person licensed to practice medicine in this state as chief medical executive.

(a-5) Requires that the DSHS commissioner be appointed without regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin.

(b) Provides that the DSHS commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governor, rather than the executive commissioner.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 40.027, Human Resources Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

(a) Requires the governor, rather than the executive commissioner, to appoint a commissioner of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS commissioner) with the advice and consent of the senate, rather than in accordance with Section 531.0056 (Appointment of Agency Director by Executive Commissioner), Government Code.

(a-1) Requires that the DFPS commissioner be appointed without regard to race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin.

(b) Provides that the DFPS commissioner serves at the pleasure of the governor, rather than the executive commissioner.

SECTION 4. Repealer: Section 531.0056 (Appointment of Agency Director by Executive Commissioner), Government Code.

Repealer: Section 1001.051(a-1) (relating to the executive commissioner employing the DSHS commissioner), Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 5. Requires the governor, as soon as possible after the effective date of this Act, to appoint the DSHS commissioner and the DFPS commissioner as required by Section 1001.051, Health and Safety Code, as amended by this Act, and Section 40.027, Human Resources Code, as amended by this Act, respectively. Provides that a person serving as the DSHS commissioner or the DFPS commissioner on the effective date of this Act continues to serve in that capacity until the governor makes the appointments required by this section.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2017.